Danvers Electric aids in Hurricane Irma recovery efforts

Two Danvers employees left town to aid in the Hurricane Irma recovery efforts, where a reported 15 million people are without electricity.

Brian Cole, a head line worker, and Noah Bradley, a first class line worker, departed on Sunday for New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a city south of Daytona Beach.

"They're both excellent employees and very good line workers," said Director of Public Works David Lane. "They're fully qualified to do all kinds of repairs on all kinds of transmission lines."

Cole and Bradley expected to arrive to Florida on Tuesday and will be down there for at least two weeks, according to Lane. They will represent Danvers in a group of municipal workers who have contributed their efforts to the state.

Lane explained that Danvers is part of the New England Public Power Association, which exists as a system of mutual aid. NEPPA reached out to Danvers, seeking volunteers.

According to a statement from Energy New England, a provider of wholesale and retail energy services, Danvers Electric was one of its 14 Municipal Light Plant customers to send crews to assist in the Hurricane Irma electric power relief and recovery efforts.

Other North Shore communities, such as Georgetown and Middleton, also sent municipal workers.

ENE's 14 crews — which includes the three North Shore communities — are among 25 crews from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island municipal light systems providing 28 line crews and supervisors, according to the statement.

The effort was coordinated through the American Public Power Association (APPA) Mutual Aid program.

The crews, most of whom left this weekend, will work with the Florida Municipal Electric Association. There are 34 municipal electric utilities in the state, serving 3 million people, or about 25 percent of Florida's population, according to ENE.

Town Manager Steve Bartha said he and the selectmen are proud of the two town employees who volunteered to make the trip to Florida.

"This means time away from their families," he said. "These are the most dangerous working conditions as an electrician. They're going to be down there having a real impact and helping people."